DETROIT – Mike Babcock will be behind the Detroit Red Wings bench next season. After that, it remains to be seen what the future holds.

Babcock is entering the final year of his contract and, although he likes being here, he said Tuesday that getting an extension this off-season is “no priority whatsoever.”

“I’m real comfortable with the owner and the manager; that’s not a concern for me one bit,” Babcock said after the team photo and locker cleanout at Joe Louis Arena. “When you’re at the stage of your career that I am, I’m real comfortable with whatever they want. I want them to be happy. If they’re not happy then I’m not happy. I have no problem. I can go year to year.”

Babcock said he hasn’t thought about his future beyond next season. He joked about being Red Berenson’s assistant at Michigan.

“My daughter’s going into her Grade 12 year. I’m either going to be the coach of the Red Wings or I’ll be Red’s assistant coach for a year,” Babcock said. “For sure I’m staying in Detroit. I haven’t thought about going anywhere else.”

Babcock has been in Detroit nine seasons and is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins (415-199-90).

“I know Scotty Bowman went year to year sometime here and I’m real comfortable with that,” Babcock said. “I can get a job. I’m not worried about that. The owner is better than great to me. They do things right. They treat people right. The GM is a driven guy who can’t stand losing and I like to be around ultracompetitive people.”

General manager Ken Holland said he will speak to Babcock about his future in the off-season.

“I thought he did a tremendous job,” Holland said. “From the time a team gets eliminated from the playoffs until early August, these are the times for big decisions. I want to talk to Mike here in the next couple of months and we’ll see what comes of it.”

Holland added, “I want him back behind the bench. I respect the job he does for us. I respect his work ethic. I respect the job he did putting the young players into our system and sticking with them. I think if you put down a list of the best coaches in the National Hockey League, he’s on that short list. I think many would have him on that list.”

Holland has one year plus a club option on his contract. He said he anticipates talking to ownership about an extension before next season.